'Fish and chips' as we know it, could be changing

Mmmmm fish and chips , the perfect naughty treat for a Monday evening. But could you imagine walking into your local chippie and asking for 'squid and chips?' instead of your usual battered cod.

Well according to recent research it may be a thing of the future, and it's all to do with our seas getting warmer. Fish like cod and haddock are only able to survive in cold waters, but squid and sardines survive in warmer waters.

Dr John Pinnegar, who led the research, told The Independent: 'UK consumers enjoy eating quite a limited range of seafood, but in the long term we will need to adapt our diets.

'In 2025 and beyond, we may need to replace cod and other old favourites with warm-water species such as squid, mackerel, sardine and red mullet.'

The research, by Dr Pinnegar and other scientists at the government-backed Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science also found that the amount of cod in UK waters had decreased, due to over fishing and global warming.

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Last year only 295,000 tonnes of cod were recorded in the North Sea, compared to 1.3 million tonnes in 1971.

Dr Pinnegar believes this will change the fish industry: 'I would anticipate that currently small-scale fisheries targeting warm-water species such as squid, sardine and anchovy will continue to expand. They will probably represent a greater share of UK fisheries catches in 10 years' time,'

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